What to Know About Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
You may get chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. This is the use of drugs to treat cancer. The drugs kill or slow the growth of the cancer. You may have it before, during, or after radiation therapy. Or you may have it before or after surgery. Doctors may use chemotherapy to help cure your cancer. In some cases, your doctor may advise chemotherapy as your only treatment. If so, the goal is to help ease symptoms when the cancer cannot be cured.
The specialist who treats you with chemotherapy is called a medical oncologist. Your oncologist and nurse can give you the details on your treatment, such as which drugs you are taking and any side effects they have. Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer may use more than one drug.
How Often and Where You Get Chemotherapy
You get chemotherapy in cycles. That means you get treated for a set amount of time, then you rest for a set amount of time. Each treatment and rest makes up one cycle. This reduces harm to healthy cells. Rests in between treatment give normal cells a chance to recover. Your doctor will decide if you need to get treatment daily, weekly, every few weeks, or monthly. Your treatment will usually last 3 to 6 months.
Doctors usually give chemotherapy in an outpatient setting. That means you get it at a hospital, clinic, or doctor’s office. You don’t have to stay the night in the hospital. Your doctor and nurse will watch you for reactions during your treatments. Each of your treatments may last a while. So you may want to bring something that is comforting to you. Some people bring music. You may also want to bring something to keep you busy, such as a deck of cards or a book.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Alteri, Rick MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Coleman, JoAnn RN, MS, ACNP, AOCN®
Online Medical Reviewer:
Lee, James J. MD, PhD
Last Annual Review Date:
3/2/2008
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